Straw-stacker.



W. ZACHOW.

'sTnA'w sTAcKER. APPLICATION FILED OCT. Il |909.

Patented J une 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

w. zAcHow.

STBAW STACKER. APPLICATION FILED- OCT. II. 1909.

Patented June 6, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WILLIAM ZACHOW, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Janes, 1916.

Application filed October 11, 1909. Serial No. 521,995.

To all whom zt may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ZAc'How, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Racine, county of Racine, and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Straw-Stackers, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to stacking mechanism which receives the straw andchaff from threshing machines and which are arranged to deliver it toform a stack.

The invention seeks to provide a simple, effective, compact constructionwhich can be readily mounted upon the rear end of the threshing machineand in which the delivery end can be swung back and forth to form thestack or swung over the threshing machine out of the way.

The invention Aalso seeks to provide improved means whereby the straw isforced through a closed channel or conduit by the use of packingdevices, so that the 'necessity 'o f employing a blast fan or endlessraddle mechanism is avoided.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the chai isdelivered to the straw by a fan and the delivery section of the stackeris provided with a raddle but these parts can be otherwise arrangedwithout departure from the broad spirit of the invention.

A further object .of the invention is to so arrange the straw-carryingor forcing means that it is not necessary to drop the straw down fromthe end of the racks of the threshing machine and thereafter elevated'again as in the ordinary stacker construction.

In the preferred form, the invention' further seeks to provide separatemeans for delivering the straw and chai romthe racks and sieves of thethreshing machine to the delivery section of the conveyer andtootherwise improve and simplify the operating arts. p With theseobjects in view, the invention consists in the features of improvementhereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form theaccompanying drawings and section on the line 4 4 more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which illustrate the preferred form of theinventionFigure 1 is a view in elevation ofthe rear end of a threshlngmachine with the improved stacker attached thereto. Fig. 2 is adetailfview in elevation of its mechanism for swinging the delivery endof the stacker and for' reversing the directions of movement. Fig. 3 isa section on the .line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal, central section of the improved stacker. Fig. 6 is adetail plan view of the conveyer and fan for the chaif, the sectionbeing'taken on the lines 6 6 of Figs. l and 5. Fig. 7 is a detail viewon an enlarged scale with parts shown in section on the lines 7 7 ofFigs. 1 and 5. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the stacker and the operatingmechanism for the delivery section:4 thereof and with parts shown insection on the lines 8 8 of Figs. 1 and 5.

The drawings illustrate the rear end portion of the thresher to- -whichthe stacking mechanism is attached. Thev rear ends of the sills 10 ofthe stacker are illustrated from which rise the angle-bar uprights 11.The

.casing of the thresher comprises, as usual,'a

roof 12 and side-walls 13. The rear ends of the straw rack 14 amd sieves15 of the stacker, are illustrated. The straw rack separates theV grainfrom the straw and delivers the straw at the rear end of vthe threshingmachine and the sieves 15 separate the chali from the grain and deliverthe chail' out at the rear end of thethresher, the chai A being usuallyseparated from the grain by a fan which blows through the sieves 15.

The frame of the stacker is formed preferably of angle-bars andcomprisesthe front and rear bars 16l and 17 which are attached at' theirupper ends to the corners of a recj I tangular frame 18 which is alsoformed of angle-bars. The front uprights 16 of. the stacker frame arevertical and are detachably bolted to the .uprights 11 of the .threshingmachine. The rear upri ht bars 17 are ,inclined inwardly at their owerends toward the front angle-bars 16 and are connected thereto, at theirlower ends, on one side by the fan casing 19 and on the opposite side bya casting 20. Inclined, bracing side-bars 21 connect the upper, rearportion of the horizontal frame 18 and the front upright bars 16. Theinclined brace-bars 21 are connected intermediate their ends byavtransverse angle-bar 22 and the ends of portion of rverse angle-bar 32which extends between series of this bar are connected to the rearuprights 17 by short angle-bars 23. The stacker is provided with sidewalls 24 and a rear wall 25, preferably of sheet metal, but the front isopen to communicate with the rear, open end of the threshing machine.The lower edge of the rear wall 25 is curved forwardly and upwardly toform a hopper 26 beneath the rear end of the sieves and which collectsthe chaff coming therefrom. The upper, forwardV edge ofthe hopper 26 isconnected, as shown, to a cross-bar 27. The stacker casing is dividedbetween its upper and lower ends by an inclined plate or wall 28 that issecured to the inclined bracing anglebars 21. Above the partition plate28 are arranged a pair of inclined, inwardlycurved walls 29 which extendinwardly from the side walls 24 of the stacker casing over the partitionplate 28. A portion of the wall 29 is formed of a series of .curvedstrips 29a which are spaced apart to form a slots through which thefeeding or packing devices extend, as hereinafter described. The walls29, strips 29a and the plate 28 form a funnel like construction intowhich the straw is delivered from the threshing machine by the strawracks 14 thereof. The straw thus delivered onto the plate 28 and intoposition between the plate 29 and curved strips 29a is picked up by thefeeding or packing devices and forced between the strips and through aclosed conduit section or throat 30. The throat 30 extends upwardly fromthe funnel or straw receiving hopper formed by the plates 28 and 29. Thethroat is preferably formed of two sections of cast metal which aresecured together and supported at their upper ends from a circular.casting 31. The circular casting is mounted at the upper, horizontalthe stackerframe upon a transthe side-bars of the top frame 18 'and upona pair of bars 33 which extend between the cross-bar 32 and the'rear barof the frame 18.

The circular casting' 31 is formed of upper and lower sections boltedtogether and which are provided with a raceway for i a row of balls 34.l These balls support a rotatable conduita or pipe section 35. and,

engage a raceway formedin the lower end thereof. The `conduit section 35is preferably in the forml of a short cylindrical casting formed of twosections bolted to- The upper section is provided with a horizontallyprojecting circular iange 36 and an upwardly-extending rectangularflange 37. An extension or curved hood 38 is mountedupon the casting 35and is secured to the rectangular flange 37 thereof. When the stacker ismounted in position upon the threshing machine, the straw racks of thelatter extend within the hopper or funnel formed by the plates 28 and 29and the straw is delivered from the racks onto the plate 28 and betweenthe plates 29, and is forced through a closed conduit or channel formedby the stationary throat section 30 and a rotatable chute sectioncomprising the cylindrical casting 35 and the hood or extension 38, bymeans of a series of packing devices or feeders which operate throughthe slots between the strip pieces 29a. These strip pieces are securedat their outer ends to the side walls 24 of the stacker casing and toinclined bracing angle-bars 39 which extend between the angle-bars 21and the upper ends of the upright angle-bars 16. The upper, inner endsof the strip pieces 29a are secured to lugs 40 upon the lower edge ofthe throat 30. There are two packing devices or feeders on each side ofthe opening or gether.

throat 30, as shown in Fig. 7. Each packing device or feeder comprisesan arm 41 having a segment-shaped end or head 42, to the opposite edgesof which two rows of teeth', 43 are secured. A pair of inclinedcrankshafts 44 are arranged outside of the walls' 29 of the hopper orfunnel .and inside the side walls 24 of the stacker casing. These axesof these shafts are inclined and substantially parallel to the inclinedwalls 29. At their lower ends, the crank-shafts 44 are mounted inbearings 45 fixed to the cross angle-bar 22. At their upper ends, theshafts are journaled in bearings 46 fixed to the transverse angle-bar32.4 Each shaft 44 is provided with two crank portions 47 di--ametrically opposite each other andthe stacker or feeder arms 41 areprovided with bearings 48 bolted thereto and engaging the crank portions47 of the shaft. Individual links 49 are pivoted to the outer ends ofthe arms 41 and to brackets 50 fixed to theside walls 24 of the sta-ckercasing. A transverse drive shaft 51 'extends vthrough the stacker casingand is journaled at its ends in boxes 52 fixed to the short angle-bars23. This shaft is provided with a pair of oppositely arranged beveledpinions 53 which engage beveled gears 54 on the rear lower ends of thecrank-shafts 44. This drive mechanism rotates the shafts 44 in oppositedirections, as indicated by the arrows in 'Fig'. 7, and thereby impartsa combined rotary and reciprocating motion to the packer arms 41, sothat the teeth 43 on the packers are projyected through the outer endsof the slots drawn from the slots between the strips 29- to force thestraw in the hopper or funnel through .the adjacent portions lofthestrips 29L and through the throat 30 and the rotatable chute sectionformed ofl theparts 35 and 38. V`At the ends of the 4movement of thepackers toward the throat they are withand thereby automatically clearthemselves of the straw. By this means, the straw delivered from theends of the straw racks 14 of the threshing-machine is forced throughthe stationary and rotatable sections of the closedco'nduitlorl channeland the straw is pushed up directly Afrom the end of the straw rackwithout firstv dropping down therefrom, as in prior stackerconstructions.

Afan casing 19 is arranged at one side ofthe stacker casing and at tlieend 0f the chaff hopper 26 in the lower portion thereof.

A transverse shaft 56. eXtendsthrough the hopper 26 and the fan casing119 and is jour-` naled at one end in a bearing formed in the casting-20'and at its other end in a bearing 57 on the fan casing. Y vided witha spiral`series of L-shaped blades 58v which are inclined in vpositionto forma broken auger or screw and which 'able series of fan blades 63mounted on the shaft 56 whichl serves to force theshaft in thecasing-through the pipe or conduit 59 and through the horizontal portion60 and elbow 61 into the hood 38 and into the strawy therein.'

The transverse drive-shaft 51 for the packers and the transverse shaft56 in the chaif hopper arev provided on oneend with" a pulley, thelpulley 641-onfthe shaft 51 bein 69 on the lever is arranged toengage-'a- -the casting:

notched segment 70 formed onz 28 to lock the lever in position.- '-7-Thefordinary pneumatic -strawstacker is objectionable in that'the strawand chaff are delivered therefrom with such 1 force by This shaft ispro-4 pivoted thereto.

the air blast that it is impossible for men to remain on the stack toproperly form the same.' The ordinary mechanical stacker isobjectionable because itis heavy and clumsy and does not compactlydeliver the straw. In the 4present improved construction, the greateramountof work is mechanically effected and onlya very small fan and airblast are employed for elevating the cha', so. that the objections toAthe vpneumatic stacker are obviated.V The packers force the strawthrough a closed conduit or channel and compress the straw so that thedelivery chute section can be small and compact, as with the ordinarypneumatic stacker. over, the-delivery chute section in the applicantsconstruction-is at the -upper portion of the machine out'of theway andcan be More- Y rotated 4back and forth to distribute the i straw orswung over the top of the threshing machine when not in use.4 Theimproved construction-therefore possesses all the advantages of themechanical stacker andlat the same time is small, compact, and `can beas readily handled as the ordinary pneu- Inatic stacker.

mechanical, it is necessary to -relieve the force of the air-blast whichis projected by the fans of the threshing machine out through its rearend. For this purpose, the triangular portions of the side walls of fthestacker casing betweenl the inclined bracebars 21 and .39 arereticulated or formed of wire -screens ,71 and the upper, rear portion of the stacker casing is provided with screened openings 72. Theseopenings are preferably formed in a pair'of slide-plates g -the ends ofthe sieves15 with openings closed larger than the pulley 65 on the shaft56.-

, A drive belt 66 extends from -the forward v v part of the threshingmachine over the pul by slide-plates 76 and the top of the stackercasingin front of the delivery chute section As the operation of thestacker is largely is provided with slides 77 which can be opened toafford access to the interior 'of the casing at this point.

The delivery chute section' may be of any -desired construction, butinthe preferredv ets 79. These brackets are pivotally mounted upon across-shaft 80 which is journaled invsuitable bearings' `upon the lower,rear .forming the stack.

having cross slats 82 extends through the conveyer 78 and over pulleys(not shown) f at its outer end and over drive pulleys on the shaft 80.An assisting conveyer is arranged within the hood 3S and below the inyclined top wall thereof. This assisting con veyer comprises a pair ofchains 84: connected by cross-bars 85 and extending over sprocket wheels86 on a pair of shafts 87 and S3. The bearings of the upper shaft 87 arefixed and the bearings S9 of the lower shaft are longitudinallyadjustable to place the proper tension upon the conveyer chains 84E.This assisting conveyer extends in inclined position across and adjacentthe inner end of the endless delivering conveyer and the straw is forcedup between the con-- veyers and onto the delivery conveyer, this actionbeing assisted by the short, supplemental conveyer within hood.

A transverse shaft 90 extends between the upper corners `of thetriangular bracket 7 9 and carries a pair of pulleys 91 thereon. Ropes92 fixed at one end of the shaft 90, extend over the pulleys 91 and overa Windlass 93 xed` to the upper portioniof the hood 38 and serve toraise and lower the delivering conveyer section of the stacker. The

shaft of the windlass 93 is provided with an operating crank-arm 94 andwith a locking ratchet 95 by which it may be held inV adjusted position.

A shield 96 comprising a top wall and depending side walls 97 is pivotedby a crossrod 98 to the upper portion of the hood 38 in front of theelbow 61. At Vits free end, the pivoted shield is provided with across,- rod 99 which rests upon the side walls of the conveyer trough orchute 78. This shield thus rises and falls with the conveyer section. Afixed, curved shield 100 is arranged within the hood 38 at the rear porotion thereof and below the mouth of the elbow 61 and above the short,assisting conveyer. The shields 96 and 100 coperate to insure thedelivery of the chaff projected from the elbow 61 by the blast into thestraw. Drive mechanism for the conveyers onY the rotatable section yofthe stacker comprises a short, horizontal shaft 101 (see Figs. 1 and 8)that is journaled in suitable bearings upon a cast metal bracket 102 on-the top wall 103, of the stacker at one sidel of the rotatablestackersection. This shaft vis driven by a chain 104 which passes over aThe inner end of the shaft 101 is provided with a beveled gear whichmeshes with the lower portion of a Adouble faced gear ring 110. Thisgear ring is formed of upper and lower connected sections and isrotatably supported on the cylindrical casting 35 by a row of balls 111arranged between the sections of the gear ring and between the sectionsof the casting A short shaft 112 is journaled in a bracket 113 on theiiange '3G and carries a gear 114e at its inrer end that meshes with theupper set of teeth on the gear ring 110. A sprocket wheel 115 is fixedon the outer end of the shaft 112 and a chain 116 extends overthiswheel, over a sprocket wheel 117 on the end of the delivery conveyorshaft SS and over a tightener sprocket 11S. The tightener sprocket iscarried on an adjustable bracket 119, and the upper portion of thechain., near the tightener sprocket, engages a sprocket wheel 120 124;fixed theretothat is provided with internal, double-faced teeth 125. Apawl actuating arm 126 loosely mounted on the shaft is pivoted to theend of an eccentric rod 127 that engages an eccentric 128, on a shortshaft v129. This shaft is mounted in bearings on the bracket 102, andcarries a gear 130 fixed to the eccentric 128 and meshing with the teethof a gear 131 on the shaft 101. A shifter disk 132 is loosely mounted onthe shaft 121 adjacent the ratchet wheel 121 and is provided with twosegment flanges 133 which are arranged to alternately engage a pair ofoppositely acting 'pawls 13a pivoted on the actuating arm 126. Bythrowing the shifter disk 132, the pawls 134 may be alternately throwninto and out of operation to'rotate the shaft 121 and the deliverysection of the stacker in opposite directions. The shifter disk isautomatically moved by an arm 135 pivoted to the bracket 102 andconnected'to the disk by a link 136. The end of this link engages a slot135a inthe arm. A pivoted spring dogA 137 on the arm yis arranged toengage a; roller 138, and holds the arm in one .or the other position.The arm is knocked-back and forth by apair of lugs or pins 139 that. areadjustahly arranged in a series of 'holes' 14.0 in the flange 37, sothat the throw of thevv rotatable stacker section may be varied asdesired. The swing of the delivery stacker section mayl be arrestedv ifdesired, by a lio shifted. to hold the operating `pawl in' idleposition. A spring 143 on the bolt142 and a series of interlocking teeth144- formed on the arms 141 and 126 serve to hold the stoparm 141 inposition.

'.[he joint between the xed and the rotatable sections ofv the stackerconduit is made fairly snug by a sheet metal ring 145 xed to the throat30 and extending within the casting 31. The bearings of the shafts 44are connected to the rear portion of the frame 18 by brace rods 146. Thelower edge of the partition lplate 28 is connected to a transverse anglebar 147. y

Itis often desirable' to separate the chaff and straw. This can bereadily accomplished with the present improved stacker, since thehorizontal pipe section is swiveled within the vertical pipe section 59.A pair of flanged rings 148 are fixed to the pipe sections 59 and- 60and are connected by clamp bolts 149' extending through ears on one ofthe rings and having washers 150 engaging the other ring. The pipesection 60 and the elbow 61 are similarly connected. By loosening thewing nuts on the bolts 149, the pipe section 60 and the elbow 61 vcan beturned to deliver the chaif at any desired point and keep it separatefrom the straw. The vertical pipe section is connected to the upperportion of the stacker frame by clamping ring barsv153. The ring flange62 on the end of the elbow 61 is held down on the top of the rotatablehood 38 by turn buttons 151 whichare normally held in engagement with'the flange by pins 152. These parts can be readily shifted to i'eleasethe'elbow when it is" desired to keep the chaff separate from the straw.

-It is obviousv that the details set forth can be varied withoutdeparture from the essentials of the invention and `that parts withoutadopting 2. In a force feed straw stacker, the com-1 bination of aclosed conduit or pipe, a hopper having a contracted outlet opening intothe inner end of said conduit and in 'line therewith, and two sets ofalternately acting packing devices arranged on opposite sidesof andadjacent the inner end of said conduit and'havinga combinedreciprocating 'l andl rotarymotion, said packing devices being arrangedto move through said hopper -and compress the straw into said contractedoutlet to thereby force the same through said closed conduit,substantially as described. v

3. In aforc'e feed straw stacker, the combination of an upwardlyextending conduit,

a hopper having a contracted outlet portion arranged in alinement withsaid conduit and opening intoithe lower inlet end thereof, and a seriesof alternately acting packing devices arranged outside of` said hopperand operating through slots therein .to .compress the straw into saidcontracted outlet and thereby force the same through vsaid condult,substantially as described.

4. In a force feed straw stacker, `the combination of ,an upwardlyleading, Haring throat, a hopper having a contracted outlet arranged inalinement with. said Haring throat and opening into the lower small endthereof, and a series of alternately acting packing devices movablethrough said hopper toward said contracted outlet and arranged tocompress the straw into said contracted outlet and through said iiarinthroat, substantially as described.

5. In a force feed straw stacker, the combination of a closed conduitcomprising a stationary, upwardly leading, expanded throat section, anda shiftable delivering stacker-section leading from the upper large endof said throat', a hopper having a contracted outlet portion arranged inalinement with said throat and opening into the lower small end thereof,andv a series of alternately acting packers movable lthrough said hopperand arranged to compress the straw into the contracted loutlet thereofto thereby force the same through the stationary throat and theshiftable delivering sections of said conduit. 4

6. In a force feed straw stacker, the combination of an vupwardlyleading stationary throat, "a deliveringconveyer communicating with theupper end of said throat, a hopper lhaving al contracted outlet portionarranged inalinement with said throat and opening into the lower endthereof, and a series of' "packing devices having a combined recipsoi le@L -screw conveyer in said chaff hopper and ay throat andin linetherewith, a series of packing devices movable through said hopper andarranged to compress the straw into the contracted. outlet thereof tothereby force the same through said throat and Vfonto said endlessconveyer, and mechanism for operating said packing devices and saidconveyer, substantially as described.

8. In a straw stacker, the combination with a straw receiving hopper, ofa stationary throat leading upwardly therefrom, a rotatable supportsurrounding the upper end of said throat, an endless delivering conveyerpivoted on said support, a short assisting conveyer arranged Vadjacentthe inner end of said delivering conveyer and a series of packingdevices for forcing the straw through said throat and between saideonveyers.

9. In a straw stacker, the combination of a stacker casing havingseparate upper and lower hoppers for respectively receiving straw andchaff, a shiftable, delivering stacker-section, a throat leadingupwardly from said upper hopper to said shiftable, deliveringstacker-section, a conduit separate from and independent of said throatleading upwardly from said lower hopper directly to said shiftable,delivering stackersection, a series of packers movable through saidhopper for forcing the straw therefrom through said throat, and a fanfor forcing the chaff from said lower hopper through said conduit,substantially as described. f

10. In a straw stacker, sthe combination of a stacker-casing havingseparate upper and lower hoppers for'reeeiving straw and chad, a closedconduit comprising a throat section leading upwardly from said strawhopper and a rotatable section communieating with the upper end of saidthroat section, a pipe leading from said chad hopper and opening intosaid rotatable conduit section in line with the axis thereof, a seriesof packers for forcing the straw through the throat and rotatablesections of said conduit, and a fan for forcing the chad through saidpipe. p

11. In a straw stacker, the combination of a stacker-casing havingseparate upper and lower hoppers for receiving straw and chaff, a throatleading upwardly from said straw hopper, a rotatable support surroundingsaid throat, a hood on said rotatable support, a fan casingcommunicating with said chaffl hopper, a pipe leading from said fancasing and opening into'the upper end. of

said hood, in line with: the axis of said ro-` tatable support, a seriesof packing devices for forcing the straw through said throat, a

fan in said casing for forcing the chad through said pipe to said hood.

12.'In 'a straw stacker, the combination of a stacker4 frame or casinghaving a straw hopper comprising an upwardly inclined bottom wall and apair of slotted, curved, inclined side walls, a throat leading upwardlyfrom said hopper, a pair of inclined crank shafts arranged outside ofand parallel to the side walls of said hopper, packer arms mounteduponthe cranks of said shafts and having tei-th adaptcdto be projectedthrough said slots, links connecting said packer arms to stationaryvbrackets and mechanism for driving said shafts in opposite directions.

18. In a straw stacker, the combination of a stacker frame or casinghaving an upper hopper and a lower hopper for receiving straw and chalf, a throat leading from said upper straw hopper, a rotatabledeliveringstacker-section leading from said throat, a pipe leading from said chaffhopper to said rotatable stacker-section, a series of packers forforcing the straw from said upper hopper through said throat, a fan forforcing the chaff through said pipe, the walls of said stacker frame orcasing being provided with reticulated portions to relieve the air blastfrom the thresher.

14. In a force feed straw stacker for threshing machines, thecombination with a stacker frame or casing adapted to be mount# ed upon.and inclose the rear end of thc threshing machine, a deliverystacker-section rotatably mounted on the upper end of said stacker frameor casing, and mechanical feeding devices for forcing the straw upwardlythrough said frame or casingto said delivery stacker section, the wallsof said stacker frame or casing being provided with reticulated portionsto relieve the blast of air from the thresher.

15. In a straw stacker, the combination of an upper hopper for receivingstraw, a lower hopper arranged below the same for receivj ing chaff, adelivering stacker-section leading from said upper hopper, mechanism forforcing the straw from said upper hopper onto-said deliveringstacker-section, a discharge pipe leading from said lower hopper, and afan for forcing the chaff through said discharge pipe, said dischargepipe having an adjustable, swinging section adapted to be detachablyconnected to said delivering stackersection to convey the chaff thereto,substantially as described.

16. In a force feed straw stacker, the com-l bination with an upwardlyextending unobstructed flaring throat, of a honner having a contractedoutlet at its upper portion opening into the lower smaller end of saidfiaring throat and in line therewith, andV aV series 1g ofy packingdevices movable upwardly". through said hopper for compressing the;

straw into said outlet and thereby force the" l samethrough said throat,substinitially` as described. e i f 17. In a force feed straw stacker,`the combination of an upwardly extending, expanded throat, a, shifteblePdelivering stacker-section leading from the upper large end of said'expanded throat, e hopper 'having a, contracted outlet at its upperportion opening into the lower small end of said throat and in linetherewith, and a series of feeding devices movable upwardly through saidhopl per for forcing the strawthrough said con- 10

